^I'm sure the performance stats will be impressive. However they don't really have a lot of wiggle room to work with since they won't let it be faster than the M3. The 135i can hit 60 in 4.7, the M3 in 4.1 (or is it 4.2?). So for an extra $10k what will you get from this car? Plus I'm sure it'll still look the part of the 1 Series, which is not a good thing.

what bothers me is that all manufacturers are jumping on this whole FI band wagon. now they are talking about V6TT for new gen M3 turbo. First of all V6 in that car is blasphemy. Good bye linear throttle response, good bye hi revving racing heritage. If I want turbo, I will get 335. Leave M3 alone. They can put hi-revving V10 and play with weight reduction, or marginally improve current V8 and reduce weight. There are so many options...

or just keep the current V8 (or bump it by some incremental amount just for marketing purposes) and reduce weight/gain sophistication in the suspension, etc. How much faster in a straight line does the M3 need to be?

On the other hand, if they make the 1///M a full-fledged M-car (basically make it what the M3 has always been, just as the 1-series stepped in to take the place of what a 3-series should be), then they could make the M3 more exotic.

The forced induction trend goes along with getting power while keeping the mpg a bit higher. The current M3 already gets hit with a hefty gas guzzler tax.

Granted, you stomp the gas on a turbo car all the time and the mileage is something awful, but you can still get good mileage. If I'm gunning it around town, I'm getting 13mpg, but I still get 28mpg on the highway after my mods.

^I know companies are trying to market lower emission and higher mpg cars. I just never understood the argument for M cars or any other performance oriented cars for that matter. My financial situation does not allow me to buy brand new M cars. I buy mine with 100k+ miles. Most I spent on the car was $18k and I really don't care about gas mileage. People that can afford $70k brand new car really don't care. For crying out loud, half of the nation rides on 10mpg trucks and SUVs.

It is nice to get good mpg, but if that was my priority I would have picked something else. If current M3 was rated 8/14 it would still sell same number of cars.

it makes since that if you are driving your car lazily then why not get good gas-mileage with it?I mean if i had a sub 5 second 0-60 car i would do that time and time again. but when I'm just cruising say 1000 miles to see the grand parents or something why not get 3-5 mpg more?

I mean you can argue that rich people shouldn't care but rich people are rich because they're tight wads good at managing money. And you can say it shouldn't matter but when gas prices go spike that 10mpg an x5 M gets REALLY FUCKING HURTS.

"BMW will concentrate on small crossovers next year with a redesigned X3 and the all-new X1. Both are based on the redesigned 3-series sedan, which will arrive in 2012.

In 2013, a new subbrand of electric and hybrid vehicles being developed by BMW's Project i group will debut.

Here is a rundown of BMW's product plans for 2010-13.

1 series: The coupe and convertible will be freshened in 2011, and a high-performance M coupe will be added. The coupe and convertible are expected to be redesigned in 2013 or 2014.

3 series: A redesign is planned for 2012 with a longer wheelbase. Power will come from a twin-turbocharged, direct-injection, four-cylinder gasoline engine. BMW probably will start with the sedan version and roll out derivatives every six months. Station wagon, coupe and convertible versions will come later.

A 3-series-based crossover similar to the 5-series Gran Turismo is expected, but it would be aimed mainly at European customers.

5 series: The redesigned sedan debuted this spring. A new M5 version will go on sale next year, likely with the 570-hp, 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 found in the X5 M and X6 M.

5-series Gran Turismo: The station-wagonlike crossover hasn't sold well since its debut last October. Executives say that's because two variants were unavailable at launch last year. The six-cylinder 535i GT arrived in June, and the all-wheel drive comes this fall.

The GT gets a freshening in 2013.

6 series: A reskinned second-generation coupe and convertible are expected in 2011. BMW probably will carry over its 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8. The new versions will take styling cues from the Gran Coupe concept shown at the 2010 Beijing auto show. Reportedly, a four-door sedan version of the 6 series with coupelike styling has been approved. It would compete with the Mercedes-Benz CLS, Porsche Panamera and Audi A7.

7 series: A mild freshening of the flagship is expected in 2012 or 2013. The $100,000-plus ActiveHybrid 7 version went on sale in June. The Active-Hybrid uses a twin-turbo-charged, direct-injection V8 and an electric motor. It gets 15 percent better fuel economy than 7-series gasoline models.

This year the 7 series got a six-cylinder engine for the first time in the United States--a 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder for the 740i. Optional awd was added to the 750i and Li this year.

BMW also added an Alpina B7 performance model this year, using the German tuner Alpina to give the 7 series a sportier body with spoilers, wheels and interior trim. A limited number will be sold through BMW dealerships.

Z4: The hard-top roadster gets a freshening in 2013.

X1: The new small crossover based on the 3 series goes on sale in the first quarter of 2011. Because of its small size, BMW isn't counting on high sales.

X3: A redesigned version of the crossover, built in Spartanburg, S.C., debuts early next year. It will be about 3 inches longer than the current X3, or nearly as large as the original X5.

The lineup will consist of the xDrive28i with a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine and the xDrive35i with a new turbocharged 3.0-liter single-turbo engine.

X5: BMW's largest crossover got a mild freshening this year. It will be redesigned in 2013.

X6: A freshening is due in 2012.

Megacity vehicle: An electric car designed for urban use comes in 2013. BMW will make extensive use of carbon fiber for the body and an interior safety shell and use aluminum components to offset the weight of the 96-cell lithium ion power pack.

Entry-level BMW: BMW is working on a new front-wheel and four-wheel-drive architecture for an entry-level car positioned below the 1 series. The architecture also will be used for the next generation of Minis. The architecture could underpin up to 20 BMW and Mini variants."

Next year will be a good year to jump on new M3. 3 year leases will be ending and there should be a big supply of cars. Right now the lowest priced $39-42k. Next summer/fall we should see low to mid 30s.